Questions are the best way to gain deeper insights and develop more innovative solutions. In fact, it was often said that asking “WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, WHEN and HOW” was synonymous with gathering great data.
“What people think of as the moment of discovery is really the discovery of the question.” – Jonas Salk
Asking lots of questions is particularly tricky whenever you’re dealing with clients who are busy people in leadership roles.
By asking each of these questions, you could better create a clear vision for personal growth, goal setting and timed framed achievements.
Questions both test your knowledge of the subject and forces you to look deep into your mind so you understand what you don’t understand.
“Asking questions is the single most important habit for innovative thinkers,” – Paul Sloane
Just as the five W’s play a very important role in journalism, there’s also five W’s that can help guide you throughout life.
The five W’s of life:
WHO?
Who you are is what makes you special. Do not change for anyone.
Don’t ever change for someone who is not willing to change anything about them for you.
WHAT?
What lies ahead will always be a mystery. Do not be afraid to explore.
You can make every day a great one with a great attitude and a desire to know more, be more, want more.
WHEN?
When life pushes you over, you push back harder.
Set a time limit on when you would like to achieve your goal. Without a time limit, there is no sense of urgency in achieving your goal.
WHERE?
Where there are choices to make, make the one you won’t regret.
Where do you practice your success? Just think about your success and focus to achieve your goal.
WHY?
Why things happen will never be certain. Take it in stride and move forward.
The first step could be asking yourself why these goals are important to you. You need to give your goals conviction.
Here are the benefits of asking questions:
- Improves your knowledge.
- Questioning makes you open.
- Questioning makes you wiser.
- Clears or reduces your doubts.
- Promotes better decision making.
In journalism, some questions helps to getting the complete story on a subject.
- Who was involved?
- What happened?
- When did it take place?
- Where did it take place?
- Why did that happen?
- How did it happen?
Quotes on the Importance of Asking the Right Question
Asking the right questions takes as much skill as giving the right answers. – Robert Half
Ask the right questions if you’re going to find the right answers. – Vanessa Redgrave
Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers. – Voltaire
My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions. – Peter Drucker
The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a very creative mind to spot wrong questions. – Antony Jay